Drill-Jobs-Drill-Jobs-Drill-Jobs

Governor Bob McDonnell Calls for Virginia Offshore Energy Development
As Gas Prices Continue to Rise, Governor Offers Strong Support for Congressional Legislation That Would Open Commonwealth to Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration and Production

RICHMOND – During his visit to a Richmond-area gas station this afternoon, Governor Bob McDonnell discussed rising gas prices and the need for more domestic energy production, including production of oil and natural gas off of Virginia’s coast. The Governor specifically highlighted two bills before Congress that would restart offshore energy exploration and production: H.R. 1230 and H.R. 1372. Governor McDonnell was joined at the event by Delegate Jimmie Massie (R-Henrico), small business owners, and representatives from the energy industry.

Speaking about America’s domestic energy policy, Governor McDonnell commented, “America has an energy policy problem. Today, Virginia businesses and families are paying, on average, $3.88 per gallon for gasoline. That’s up $1.00 from a year ago. The Energy Information Administration estimates that gasoline will cost the average U.S. household $1,210 more this year than in 2009. That is money that could be spent by families on education, groceries and vacations. Instead it is money being spent at the pump. The pain at the pump is the result of many factors, one of which is the result of our ongoing dependence on foreign sources of oil. That is why I strongly support increasing domestic energy production from every possible source, including wind, solar, biomass, nuclear, oil and natural gas. A key part of that effort should be the environmentally responsible development and production of oil and natural gas off of Virginia’s shores.”

Governor McDonnell continued, “Last month I sent a letter to President Obama outlining the steps we can take now to ensure we have a stable and reliable supply of oil and natural gas. The House of Representatives will soon be considering two pieces of legislation that will restart offshore energy production in Virginia and in the Gulf, and I have urged the President to support this legislation. By allowing for offshore energy exploration in the Gulf of Mexico, and requiring the lease sale off the Atlantic Coast to move forward, we will be well on our way to restarting offshore energy production which will create jobs, lower energy costs, and generate revenue to help pay down the national debt. This legislation is essential to getting American energy production back on track. We must move forward in developing our own domestic resources to their maximum potential. America cannot afford to keep turning a blind eye to rising gas prices, which are detrimental to job creation, economic growth, and most importantly, our national security. When it comes to domestic energy production we must have an “all of the above” approach. That is why I strongly support efforts to develop our offshore wind resources, bring more nuclear power online, continue to utilize our vast coal deposits, and carry forth the ongoing research and development of renewable energy sources like solar power and biomass. When it comes to energy we must utilize every resource available. We know that oil and natural gas is available off our coast and we know we can develop those resources in a safe, smart and environmentally responsible manner. We should act immediately.”

Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), who is carrying H.R. 1372, noted, “Virginians understand that a major component in lessening energy costs is to produce more energy. I believe that Virginia should have every tool available to access its energy supplies. That is why legislation like the one the Congress is considering today, that would provide for access to Virginia's energy supplies as well as legislation that I have introduced that would provide for revenue sharing with the Commonwealth for its energy resources are vital to the Commonwealth of Virginia. In addition to helping us become energy independent, access to these resources will help create thousands of jobs for Virginians and infuse the Commonwealth with new capital growth.”

Delegate Jimmie Massie, who is also a small businessman, added, “Last week I had dinner with other business leaders and I ask them: ‘How is business? How are your sales doing?’ Their response last week was not good. Every one of them told me they had seen a noticeable drop in their sales over the past month as gas prices have been increasing, and, as a result, consumer’s disposable incomes have been constantly declining. We must act now to lower gas prices and develop a comprehensive energy policy, to curb our increasing gas costs that are creating a severe cash flow squeeze and destroying jobs.”

Randy Seibert, President & CEO of Manchester Marketing, Inc, remarked, “Just like rising oil prices affect our customers, even gas stations are impacted because we have to pay more for gas too. For example, one year ago it cost me about $23,000 to purchase a truckload of gas. This morning, that same delivery to this station cost us about $33,000. This is creating cash flow problems for businesses like ours across the Commonwealth.”

Mike Ward, Executive Director of the Virginia Petroleum Council, concluded, ““The oil and natural gas industry stands ready – and waiting – to do more to help grow the economy, create American jobs, and provide the energy this country needs. The energy markets are constantly looking for signals to guide today’s investment strategies for producing tomorrow’s energy. Regrettably, the signals this administration has been sending encourage less investment in future domestic energy production. Our economy will still need oil and natural gas for decades to come. America must pursue policies that encourage responsible development of our resources instead of relying on imported energy from unstable parts of the world.”

Mike O’Connor, President & CEO of the Virginia Petroleum, Convenience and Grocery Association, said, “Our members are impacted in much the same way as our customers. The only real difference is in the size of our tanks. A year ago it cost $54,000 to supply a station with 20,000 gallons of storage capacity. Today that same delivery costs the station owner $76,200. As a result, credit lines are stretched to their limits, which has brought new investment in the petroleum marketing industry to a halt.”

The letter Governor McDonnell sent to President Obama is attached to this press release. To read Governor McDonnell’s op-ed in today’s Richmond Times-Dispatch outlining the critical need to develop our domestic energy resources, please visit: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2011/may/05/tdopin02-mcdonnell-americas-energy-insecurity-ar-1017440/

If Something Isn't Done Soon....

...we'll be working to drive instead of driving to work. I have come to the conclusion that the government is deliberatly attempting to break the working middle class. Eliminate our disposable income by jacking up the cost of making a living.


Block, Delay, & Tax: Hastings Outlines the White House Approach to Stop American Energy Production
by Don Seymour

With gas prices on the rise and job creators plagued with uncertainty, Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA) writes in Roll Call that “House Republicans have heard the American people’s demand for increased American energy production and we’re ready to act.”

The Obama Administration, on the other hand, “has never missed an opportunity to block access to our American energy resources,” says Hastings. He says the White House approach to stopping American energy production is to “block, delay, and tax” – and the result has been higher prices and fewer jobs:

BLOCK: “When President Obama was elected,” Hastings says, “nearly all of our offshore areas were open to offshore drilling. Since then, President Obama has systematically locked-up the entire Atlantic Coast, the Pacific Coast and much of Alaska — preventing the creation of over 1.2 million jobs.” CNN released a survey showing seven in 10 Americans back expanded offshore energy production.

DELAY: “The Obama administration has delayed permits for renewable energy projects, such as wind and solar, on public lands,” and “first delayed and then significantly altered the oil shale research, demonstration and development (RD&D) lease program.” It is also “slow-walking permits for production in Alaska’s north slope.” A recent Congressional hearing showed job losses continue to mount due to this de facto moratorium on energy production.

TAX: The Administration “was out front and center pushing for a job-destroying cap-and-trade national energy tax” (which, he notes, even the president said would make energy prices “necessarily skyrocket”) and is “advocating for increasing taxes on American energy producers.” Hastings notes that “the White House has admitted this will do nothing to lower gasoline prices.” (emphsis mine)

Read the whole op-ed by Chairman Hastings here.

Click to learn more about the American Energy Initiative and here for legislation on the House floor this week that will help address rising gas prices, increase energy production, and create new jobs.

Better Nip This One In the Bud

Two senators eye gas tax hike to pay for highways and bridges
By Alexander Bolton - 11/08/10 06:31 PM ET

A bipartisan pair of senators has urged President Obama’s debt commission to consider raising the gas tax to pay for infrastructure projects.

Sens. Tom Carper (D-Del.) and George Voinovich (R-Ohio) have written to the chairmen of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform advocating for a 25-cent per gallon tax increase.

“We suggest that the commission include an increase in the federal tax on gasoline and diesel as part of your report to the president,” they wrote. “We suggest that the taxes be increased by one cent per month for 25 months — a total of 25 cents over a three-year period.”

Bipartisan or not, we don't need higher gasoline prices.

Impact of the Waxman–Markey Climate Change Legislation on Virginia

This paper, in its entirety, can be found at:
www.heritage.org/Research/EnergyandEnvironment/wm2585-VA.cfm


On June 26, a 1,427-page climate change bill introduced by Representatives Henry Waxman (D–CA) and Edward Markey (D–MA) passed the House by a narrow margin. The bill, also known as Waxman–Markey, includes a number of alarming provisions, chief among them a cap-and-trade program that would attempt to curb global warming by imposing strict upper limits on the emission of six greenhouse gases, with the primary emphasis on carbon dioxide (CO2).

The mechanism for capping these emissions requires emitters to acquire federally created permits (or “allowances”) for each ton of greenhouse gas emitted. Because these allowances carry a price—and because 85 percent of the United States’ energy needs come from carbon-emitting fossil fuels—Waxman–Markey is best described as a significant tax on energy use. Since everything Americans use and produce requires energy, the tax hits U.S. pocketbooks again and again. The Heritage Foundation’s Center for Data Analysis forecasts severe consequences, including skyrocketing energy costs, millions of jobs lost, and falling household income and economic activity—all for negligible changes in the global temperature.

Workers and families in Virginia may be wondering how cap-and-trade legislation would affect their income, their jobs, and the cost of energy. Implementing Waxman–Markey would put a chokehold on Virginia’s economic potential, reducing gross state product by $14.75 billion in 2035.

Consumers would be hit hard. Between 2012 (when the restrictions first apply) and 2035 (the last year of this analysis), the prices of electricity and gasoline will rise sharply when compared to prices in a world without cap and trade. By 2035, Americans living in the state of Virginia will see their electricity prices rise by $1,031.73 and their gasoline prices rise by $1.31 per gallon solely because of Waxman–Markey.

The Waxman–Markey Effect
For the state of Virginia, over the 2012–2035 timeframe, on average the Waxman–Markey bill would:
• Lower gross state product by $8,762 million
• Reduce personal income by $3,247 million
• Destroy 26,604 jobs
• Raise electricity prices by $532.18 per household,
• Raise gasoline prices by $0.64 cents per gallon
Source: Heritage Foundation calculations based on the IHS/Global Insight U.S. Macroeconomic and Energy models.

Party of the Common Man?

Human Events Online
Obama Gets Failing Grade on Three E's: Energy, Education, and Eastern Europe

"Senator Obama has presented a variety of sound bites on many issues, but he has failed to provide any real solutions, or any hint of change," says David Freddoso, author of the new bestseller The Case Against Barack Obama.

Over the next few days, we will explore Senator Obama's position on three issues dominating today's headlines—energy, education, and Eastern Europe. Today we delve into his energy agenda.

Helping Americans by Raising Gas Prices?
High gas prices continue to punish American consumers and businesses. Yet Senator Obama's political track record clearly supports policies that would raise gas prices even higher, says author David Freddoso.

In his new bestseller, The Case Against Barack Obama, Freddoso points out that n0bama lamented in mid-June that high gasoline prices have hurt Americans. But n0bama supports carbon caps and carbon taxes—environmental controls that are designed to intentionally increase prices at the pump. The idea is to make gasoline more expensive so that people use less of it and emit less carbon. n0bama also eagerly embraces ethanol as a key solution to our energy crisis, adds Freddoso, but experts agree that ethanol will lead to much higher food prices, without providing real energy relief.

"Obama supports an environmental policy that requires higher gas prices over the long run," says Freddoso. "Until he drops his environmental program, Obama is only shedding crocodile tears when he talks about how high gas prices are hurting Americans. His real goal is $6 or $7 gasoline, as a matter of policy."

Americans need a leader who will offer real leadership and real solutions, not simply pay lip service to their concerns while pursuing policies that will hurt average Americans. For his energy policy, Barack Obama receives an "F."

It's The Supply, Stupid

Congress Can Lower Gasoline Prices By:

• Cutting gas taxes and banning earmarks that drive up costs
• Supporting Congressman Ryan's "Roadmap for America's Future" HR 6110 is a good first step.
• Increase American oil production by allowing drilling in ANWR and increasing exploration in the OCS.
• Authorizing the construction of new refineries and expansion of existing ones.
• Ending the moratorium on oil shale production in he US

America Deserves a Sound and Responsible Energy Policy

• The best way to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and keep our money here, is to utilize the resources we currently have at our disposal while we wait on a viable market source of alternative energy.
• The free market, if allowed to work, will encourage the necessary innovation that will yield clean and cheap sources of energy.
• The United States is the most environmentally responsible and successful nation in the known universe, but current climate regulations proposed by the enviro-nazi wacko lobby would put a stop to this prosperity and ultimately do more harm than than good to the cause of energy independence and financial (and national) security.

First and foremost, the United States must increase it's domestic supply of oil and natural gas. Nearly 85% of the OCS is off-limits for drilling and exploration because of a dhimmicrat imposed Congressional mandate. Similarly, the vast supplies of oil contained in the northernmost portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) are impounded. These are two areas that are proven to contain vast reserves of oil and natural gas, that the government, (i.e. dhimmicrat and environmental lobbyists), has chosen to allow to sit idle. By opening these reserves for exploration and drilling, Congress could decrease the cost of fuel. According to recent pols, nearly three-fourths of Americans support drilling in these areas.

Seond, Congress must authorize the construction and expansion of oil refineries in the United States. There has not been a new refinery built in this nation for over 30 years. In 2007, the U.S. consumed nearly 21 million barrels of oil PER DAY, but produced only 5 million. By lifting burdensome regulations, we can dramatically increase the amount of oil produced in this country.

Finally, Congress should simply allow the free-market to work to meet the energy needs of the nation. Three things that Congress can do right now that would spur on the free market are cutting taxes, banning earmarks, and eliminating the wasteful spending that is rampant in Washington DC. If the free market is allowed to work with minimal intervention, then not only will we see a decrease in fuel prices because of increased domestic production, but we will also witness the emergence of viable alternative sources of energy.

The Congressional ban on offshore drilling expires on 30 September 2008. The best thing Congress can do is what has continually done, NOTHING. Let the ban expire. Free the market to run on it's own.

Let the American people do what they have always done, overcome adversity and show the world we are the greatest country in the known universe.

Cross posted at The Talon and DCProtestWarrior

The Price of Gasoline Is Not High Enough

The dhimmis think the price of gasoline is not high enough, so they want to add a 10 cents per gallon tax on top of what we're already paying.
WTF are you thinking?
You really think this is going to help? Millions of people have to drive in order to perform their jobs. There is no way all of us can ride bicycles or take the bus or drive those little hybrids. It's just not practical. Adding more to the price of gasoline will simply add more to the price of everything else, and force some of the little guys, the ones who drive pick-ups with lawnmowers and toolboxes, out of business. If thats what you want, then all your platitudes about caring about the little people is just bullshit.
The little people, the ones you claim to care about, are the ones who keep this economy going, and you have, at every opportunity, worked to make life harder and more expensive. You want a revolution? You want us marching in the streets of DC with pitchforks and torches? Raise the price of gasoline with a tax increase.
John McCain needs to be pounding the dhimmis with this. Like John Henry with his hammer, McCain needs to be hitting these asshats daily, hourly.
I work at a coal fired power plant. The plant is a clean facility. One of the first in the country. It works.
Senator McCain, I cordially invite you to visit this plant, explain to the American people that you truly care about us and America's energy independence and economic security, and stuff it in Dingy Harry's face. If you don't, you're not worthy of holding the office of President.